Maria Elena 'Helen' Bolton

HELEN BOLTON MUSCATINE, Iowa - Maria Elena 'Helen' Bolton, 64, of Muscatine, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 14, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at the St. Mathias Church, 215 West Eighth Street. The Reverend Troy Richmond will celebrate the mass. A time of food and fellowship will be held following the mass at Gannon Hall. Memorials may be made to Gilda's Club in Davenport or the Flickinger Learning Center in Muscatine. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Helen will be laid to rest in her hometown of El Paso, Texas. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com. Helen had a passion for life and dedicated much of her time serving others. She was an active member of St. Mathias Church where she served as a trustee for six years, also serving on the Finance Council, Parish Council, Hispanic Council, and the Board of Education for Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic School. She volunteered at Flickinger Learning Center where she implemented ...[more]

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incredibly successful English as a Second Language (ESL) program for adults and taught the same program at the Muscatine Community College. She also taught computer skills in Spanish and helped several study for their citizenship. Helen served on the Iowa State University Muscatine County Extension Council, and was a master gardener. She was also instrumental in finding a meeting place for Gilda's Club in Muscatine. Her biggest joy was her family and she loved being surrounded by her children, her siblings and their families, as well as many close friends, who will miss her greatly. The family would like to offer sincere thanks to the caring staff at the SNICU, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, especially to Dr. Chan and his team, for their gracious care and kindness of Helen. Those left to honor her memory include her husband of 39 years, Robert Bolton of Muscatine; three sons, Patrick Bolton and wife, Robin, of Savage, Minnesota, Travis Bolton of Muscatine, and Robert Bolton of Cedar Rapids; two granddaughters, Colette and Renae Bolton; three sisters, Elizabeth Heffernan of Bloomington, Minnesota, Susan Higgins and husband, Charlie, of Coronado, California, and Patricia Flores of El Paso, Texas; a brother, Joseph Flores and wife, Leah, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; one brother-in-law, Paul Rivas of El Paso, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Eva Flores, and one sister, Christine Rivas.